Innovative Insights into War in the Ancient World

Prof. Gabriel (Royal Military College of Canada), author of such works as Thutmose III: The Military Biography of Egypt's Greatest Warrior King, Muhammad: Islam's First Great General, Between Flesh and Steel: A History of Military Medicine from the Middle Ages to the War in Afghanistan, and many other valuable works, gives us a survey of warfare in the ancient world to the end of the Romano-Persian wars, on the eve of the Muslim expansion out of Arabia.

Among the book’s 28 chapters are some which survey major aspects of the history of ancient warfare, beginning with “The Invention of War,” on to such matters as “Killing Technology,” “Life of the Common Soldier,” “Logistics,” “Iron Rations,” “Animals in War,” “Medical Care,” and more. Other chapters deal with specific commanders, such as Thutmose III, Philip II of Macedon, Hannibal, and Marcus Agrippa, while still others address certain critical events or trends, such as the collapse of the Bronze Age state system around the end of the 1200-1100 BC, the introduction of iron weapons by the Assyrians, the collapse of Rome, and “War and Madness,” with a chapter on military history as found in ancient texts.

Naturally, in a work of such scope an occasional error creeps in (e.g., Roman imperial legionaries enlisted for 20 years, not six), but these are rare. While specialists in ancient military history may find much of Gabriel’s treatment familiar, and may or may not agree with some of his conclusions, On Ancient Warfare is certainly an excellent read for the relative novice.

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Note: On Ancient Warfare is also available in paperback & e-editions.

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